arion's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
moirwyn's review against another edition
5.0
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2014/09/29/dreamers-pool-by-juliet-marillier/
Dreamer’s Pool is the first installment in Juliet Marillier’s newest series, Blackthorn & Grim. The protagonist is a woman who has been imprisoned for speaking out against authority. Fate has not been kind to her. She’s about to be executed for standing up for what’s right, and her time in prison has made her angry and bitter. If she were to have her freedom, she would singlemindedly pursue revenge against Malthuin. But revenge is not in the cards.
A fae named Conmael offers to free her, but like any bargain with the fae, there’s a catch. In exchange for her life, she will have to move to a remote cabin in the forest far from her homeland. For seven years she must delay her quest for revenge, but instead answer any cry for help. The woman accepts Conmael’s proposition, and takes a new name, Blackthorn, to go with her new life.
Blackthorn is accompanied in her travels by Grim, a fellow inmate from the prison. Blackthorn doesn’t want company, but Grim has nowhere else to go, and so she is oathbound to take him with her. Even though she prides herself on being self-reliant, Blackthorn slowly begins to warm to Grim, who proves himself over and over again to be a good and decent person. One very telling glimpse of his character is that while in prison, he’s the only person who doesn’t call Blackthorn “Slut”, instead calling her “Lady.” Grim sees in Blackthorn a chance for his own redemption from the specter of his past. He also believes in Blackthorn when nobody else does, least of all herself. He knows in is heart that she’s a good person, even though she’s currently a bit prickly. Malthuin has left Blackthorn with a lot of emotional wounds, and as a result, she’s pretty much shut herself off from the world. Grim respects her privacy and gives her space, but he has issues of his own, and the two of them gradually learn to trust and rely upon each other.
When Blackthorn and Grim arrive in Dalraida, they stumble upon a mystery. Prince Oran has been corresponding with his future bride, Lady Flidais. It’s obvious that the two of them are soulmates. Even though Oran has railed against the thought of marrying a woman he’s never met, he envisions a happy future, because Flidais is intellectually his equal and has a complimentary personality. However, when Flidais arrives in Dalraida, it’s as if the person whom Oran has spoken with no longer exists. Flidais shows no interest in the common people, takes no pleasure in reading, and locks herself in her room and refuses to come out. The beloved puppy that Flidais mentioned in her letters won’t go near Flidais without barking and quivering. It’s as if she’s a completely different person that the woman Oran had come to love, and Oran wants a way out. He hears about Blackthorn and Grim from the villagers, and he seeks their assistance to figure out what went wrong.
Even though there’s magic in the story, it feels surprisingly realistic, as if magic is just one more element of the natural world that should be taken into account when solving logical puzzles. I think that perhaps it’s because Dreamer’s Pool feels like a mystery that happens to be contextualized within a fantasy story. The book ends when Blackthorn and Grim solve the mystery, but their story arc will continue (presumably) throughout the rest of the series until the seven years are up and Blackthorn can take back control of her life.
Marillier’s prose is sublime. The atmosphere that she creates reminds me of writers like Patricia McKillip or Robin McKinley, evocative of myths and faerie tales, but with a fresh feminist perspective. Dreamer’s Pool is the first of Marillier’s novels that I’ve read, which makes me wonder–Juliet Marillier, where have you been all my life?
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2014/09/29/dreamers-pool-by-juliet-marillier/
Dreamer’s Pool is the first installment in Juliet Marillier’s newest series, Blackthorn & Grim. The protagonist is a woman who has been imprisoned for speaking out against authority. Fate has not been kind to her. She’s about to be executed for standing up for what’s right, and her time in prison has made her angry and bitter. If she were to have her freedom, she would singlemindedly pursue revenge against Malthuin. But revenge is not in the cards.
A fae named Conmael offers to free her, but like any bargain with the fae, there’s a catch. In exchange for her life, she will have to move to a remote cabin in the forest far from her homeland. For seven years she must delay her quest for revenge, but instead answer any cry for help. The woman accepts Conmael’s proposition, and takes a new name, Blackthorn, to go with her new life.
Blackthorn is accompanied in her travels by Grim, a fellow inmate from the prison. Blackthorn doesn’t want company, but Grim has nowhere else to go, and so she is oathbound to take him with her. Even though she prides herself on being self-reliant, Blackthorn slowly begins to warm to Grim, who proves himself over and over again to be a good and decent person. One very telling glimpse of his character is that while in prison, he’s the only person who doesn’t call Blackthorn “Slut”, instead calling her “Lady.” Grim sees in Blackthorn a chance for his own redemption from the specter of his past. He also believes in Blackthorn when nobody else does, least of all herself. He knows in is heart that she’s a good person, even though she’s currently a bit prickly. Malthuin has left Blackthorn with a lot of emotional wounds, and as a result, she’s pretty much shut herself off from the world. Grim respects her privacy and gives her space, but he has issues of his own, and the two of them gradually learn to trust and rely upon each other.
When Blackthorn and Grim arrive in Dalraida, they stumble upon a mystery. Prince Oran has been corresponding with his future bride, Lady Flidais. It’s obvious that the two of them are soulmates. Even though Oran has railed against the thought of marrying a woman he’s never met, he envisions a happy future, because Flidais is intellectually his equal and has a complimentary personality. However, when Flidais arrives in Dalraida, it’s as if the person whom Oran has spoken with no longer exists. Flidais shows no interest in the common people, takes no pleasure in reading, and locks herself in her room and refuses to come out. The beloved puppy that Flidais mentioned in her letters won’t go near Flidais without barking and quivering. It’s as if she’s a completely different person that the woman Oran had come to love, and Oran wants a way out. He hears about Blackthorn and Grim from the villagers, and he seeks their assistance to figure out what went wrong.
Even though there’s magic in the story, it feels surprisingly realistic, as if magic is just one more element of the natural world that should be taken into account when solving logical puzzles. I think that perhaps it’s because Dreamer’s Pool feels like a mystery that happens to be contextualized within a fantasy story. The book ends when Blackthorn and Grim solve the mystery, but their story arc will continue (presumably) throughout the rest of the series until the seven years are up and Blackthorn can take back control of her life.
Marillier’s prose is sublime. The atmosphere that she creates reminds me of writers like Patricia McKillip or Robin McKinley, evocative of myths and faerie tales, but with a fresh feminist perspective. Dreamer’s Pool is the first of Marillier’s novels that I’ve read, which makes me wonder–Juliet Marillier, where have you been all my life?
teri_b's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A tough but rewarding read
Juliet Marillier takes us onto a journey as we follow Blackthorn & Grim as they emerge out of the dungeons, traumatised and barely alive, and yet, their lives are not over yet.
The journey Blackthorn is set upon by the fae who offers her a way out of the prison is harrowing and harsh, as she grapples with the grief over her past and the trauma of her imprisonment and the vengeance she now seeks.
Very well written with mythology and legend woven into the mystery that too is written into this story. It was a very absorbing read.
Juliet Marillier takes us onto a journey as we follow Blackthorn & Grim as they emerge out of the dungeons, traumatised and barely alive, and yet, their lives are not over yet.
The journey Blackthorn is set upon by the fae who offers her a way out of the prison is harrowing and harsh, as she grapples with the grief over her past and the trauma of her imprisonment and the vengeance she now seeks.
Very well written with mythology and legend woven into the mystery that too is written into this story. It was a very absorbing read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Child death and Rape
diaryofthebookdragon's review against another edition
4.0
Dreamer's Pool caught my interest immediately with beautiful cover. Plus, Juliet Marillier is a famous fantasy author with a couple of very popular series. Dreamer's Pool was a perfect opportunity to indulge my cover love and read something by Juliet Marillier (which I planned to do for some time anyway).
LIKES
* Realistic atmosphere. Whether it's a dungeon, a castle or a meadow in the forest, descriptions are so vivid it felt like I was there.
* Medieval fantasy refreshed. Just when I thought I was sick and tired of fantasy novels set in a world similar to European medieval times, Dreamer's Pool proved me wrong. There are no usual noble knights and fearsome wizards here , Juliet Marillier bundles up three unlikely characters: young inexperienced prince (Oran), bitter grumpy healer (Blackthorn) and silent brooding escaped convict (Grim).
* Musings about leadership. Oran is a young prince whose time to rule is yet to come. I liked to read chapters from his point of view because they were full of thoughts about what makes a good leader. With his doubts, fears and dreams, it's very easy to feel connected to Oran and his problems.
* Personal growth. By the end of Dreamer's Pool, all three main characters learn something and are better persons for it.
* Easy to read. Juliet Marillier is definitely an 'old master' and her writing is fluid and not overwhelming. Dreamer's Pool's got that secret ingredient that makes it hard to put down. I always had that niggling feeling that I had to read just one more page...
MIXED FEELINGS
* Different expectations. Maybe the pretty cover is to blame, but I expected to read a light fantasy novel with a bit of romance. You can imagine my surprise when Dreamer's Pool started in the dungeon with Blackthorn broken.
Everything was so dirty, there was a time I contemplated quitting. Now I am so glad I didn't, because Dreamer's Pool turned out to be a captivating story, but those pesky expectations are one of the reasons why the rating is 4 and not 5 stars.
* Troublesome POV switches. Chapters are told from three points of view in the first person narrative. Getting close and personal with three emotionally different personalities can easily get overwhelming. I had a hard time switching from one narration to another.
DISLIKES
* Blackthorn was prickly and grim as her name suggest it. She never trusts anyone and is harsh to people. I was especially bothered with her attitude toward poor Grim. Whenever he got stung by one of her cruel remarks, I was so sorry for him.
IN THE END...
Dreamer's Pool was not what I expected. If you are looking for something fresh and new in a fantasy genre inspired by medieval ages, then you should definitely check it out. Don't let the pretty girl in the frilly dress on the cover fool you, this is not a romance novel and all fantasy fans can enjoy it.
This review is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
LIKES
* Realistic atmosphere. Whether it's a dungeon, a castle or a meadow in the forest, descriptions are so vivid it felt like I was there.
* Medieval fantasy refreshed. Just when I thought I was sick and tired of fantasy novels set in a world similar to European medieval times, Dreamer's Pool proved me wrong. There are no usual noble knights and fearsome wizards here , Juliet Marillier bundles up three unlikely characters: young inexperienced prince (Oran), bitter grumpy healer (Blackthorn) and silent brooding escaped convict (Grim).
* Musings about leadership. Oran is a young prince whose time to rule is yet to come. I liked to read chapters from his point of view because they were full of thoughts about what makes a good leader. With his doubts, fears and dreams, it's very easy to feel connected to Oran and his problems.
* Personal growth. By the end of Dreamer's Pool, all three main characters learn something and are better persons for it.
* Easy to read. Juliet Marillier is definitely an 'old master' and her writing is fluid and not overwhelming. Dreamer's Pool's got that secret ingredient that makes it hard to put down. I always had that niggling feeling that I had to read just one more page...
MIXED FEELINGS
* Different expectations. Maybe the pretty cover is to blame, but I expected to read a light fantasy novel with a bit of romance. You can imagine my surprise when Dreamer's Pool started in the dungeon with Blackthorn broken.
Everything was so dirty, there was a time I contemplated quitting. Now I am so glad I didn't, because Dreamer's Pool turned out to be a captivating story, but those pesky expectations are one of the reasons why the rating is 4 and not 5 stars.
* Troublesome POV switches. Chapters are told from three points of view in the first person narrative. Getting close and personal with three emotionally different personalities can easily get overwhelming. I had a hard time switching from one narration to another.
DISLIKES
* Blackthorn was prickly and grim as her name suggest it. She never trusts anyone and is harsh to people. I was especially bothered with her attitude toward poor Grim. Whenever he got stung by one of her cruel remarks, I was so sorry for him.
IN THE END...
Dreamer's Pool was not what I expected. If you are looking for something fresh and new in a fantasy genre inspired by medieval ages, then you should definitely check it out. Don't let the pretty girl in the frilly dress on the cover fool you, this is not a romance novel and all fantasy fans can enjoy it.
This review is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
nakedsushi's review against another edition
3.0
Slow to start but it got pretty good. It's more like a mystery novel than traditional fantasy which was a nice surprise. I liked that not all the women were one dimensional.
marpesea's review against another edition
I was enjoying the slow pace of this and had grown to like Blackthorn and Grim, but there were some twists and turns with the plot that made it... Not for me. I had figured out the main mystery pretty quickly, but reading the three different POVs as they slowly pieced things together was interesting.
My main issue was with the depiction of female sexuality. A false rape accusation (why do you even need to include that!?!), the fact that the only female character to possess sexual agency is the villain (everyone else just gets rape or respectable marriage) and the way the villain's sexual encounters are described made this a challenging read. I understand this is set in a faux-medieval world, but if you can add elves and magic then you can add gender equality and reduce (or eliminate!) sexual violence. Believe it or not you can have a damaged woman with a tragic backstory without rape- really, you can. At least in this instance it was used to fuel her own character development.
My main issue was with the depiction of female sexuality. A false rape accusation (why do you even need to include that!?!), the fact that the only female character to possess sexual agency is the villain (everyone else just gets rape or respectable marriage) and the way the villain's sexual encounters are described made this a challenging read. I understand this is set in a faux-medieval world, but if you can add elves and magic then you can add gender equality and reduce (or eliminate!) sexual violence. Believe it or not you can have a damaged woman with a tragic backstory without rape- really, you can. At least in this instance it was used to fuel her own character development.
joliendelandsheer's review against another edition
4.0
Review on my blog, The Fictional Reader
I’m going to start by saying that I removed half of the synopsis given on Goodreads. My only “issue” with this book was that I knew too much going in. I read the entire Goodreads synopsis, and I feel like it was just too telling! I was waiting for 70% of the book on what I already knew would happen… So to ensure that you don’t have the same problem, I’ve redacted the summary. Anyway, let’s get into the review.
WORLD
A first aspect I loved. During this book, the main characters travel from their prison through different countries into Dalriada. They travel for days/weeks. During that time, you get to experience and discover the world as well. I really enjoyed Juliet Marillier’s descriptions, and the world she created. Every time I read one of her books, everything just seems magical. The idyllic woods, small cabins and cottages, the great castles. Sigh. It all just sounds absolutely wonderful.
Like most fantasy novels, this sounds like a medieval setting. Horses, castles, swords, and (herb) healers. Blackthorn is a healer, or as some would say, a wise woman. I really enjoyed learning about the place they live, their little cabin in the woods. I loved to get to know the townspeople, their jobs and way of living. And of course, you get to know the way everything works inside the castle too. Prince Oran’s castle in Dalriada is not the “main seat” for the royal family, it’s his personal house. So the King & Queen are actually not that present in this book, aside from mentions.
Like I said, this world seems so magical and full of possibilities. Yet tough times and hard work are required to survive too.
I don’t really want to talk about the plot. Like I mentioned, I feel like you should know as little as possible before starting this book. Even though I felt a bit spoiled on it all, I loved the whole story. It was a delight to go along with Oran, Blackthorn and Grim and discover what was happening in their world.
CHARACTERS
This story is told through 3 POVs: Blackthorn’s, Grim’s and Prince Oran’s.
Blackthorn is a healer. Or she was once, at least. As part of her deal to get out of prison, she can’t refuse to help anyone. Now, Blackthorn has been through many tough times, which is part of the reason she ended up in prison. It has made her extremely vengeful, and the last thing she wants to do is help people. Yet she has to. She’s a complicated character, to me. As she is somewhat “older” (maybe in her late 20s or early 30s, I can’t quite remember – by older I just mean she’s not a teenager) when the story starts, she’s already had quite the life before.
At the start of the story, you don’t know anything about her life prior though. You only know that she wants vengeance against a powerful man. She’s an angry woman. And she’s determined. So sometimes, that leads to her having blinders on. You get to know this prickly woman who wants nothing to do with other humans slowly. But it’s so worth it. She’s also a woman who stands up for women’s rights -which I think is incredible. I really enjoyed reading from her perspective.
Grim is another very interesting character! I feel like I want to read the next book immediately, just to figure out more about him. Even after finishing this book, I have so many questions surrounding him. Here’s what comes to mind now, when I think of him. He’s a giant guy, which is why people are apprehensive when he approaches. But he’s such a kind person. I felt for him, truly. And he’s always taking care of Blackthorn, and trying to make her life a bit easier -even though she insists she doesn’t need him. His POV was my absolute favorite, and I’m sad he didn’t have more pages.
The last main character is Prince Oran. If I’m completely honest, his POV was my least favorite. Anyway, this story revolves around him -and his wedding- as well. His parents have been urging Oran to marry for years now, as he’s more than a suitable age. Especially for a prince. Oran is a person who prefers poetry, reading, writing and walks over hunting and fighting. He’s described as ‘soft’. I thought it was really interesting that a prince in such a medieval setting-fantasy novel has this kind of personality! It’s refreshing. But he’s refused to marry until he finds a woman he actually loves. Which is were Flidais comes in. They’ve been corresponding for a while, and she’s coming to his castle to get married.
When I read about him, I feel like he would make a great king. He walks between his people, listening to their problems, trying to solve them and understand their way of living. He’s honest and fair, but most of all, smart. All good qualities! Yet sometimes I felt a tad bored when I read from his perspective?
OVERALL
This is an incredible fantasy novel, and a great start to a series. I’ve been a fan of Juliet Marillier for years, and I’m glad to say I enjoyed this newer series too. I definitely want to pick up the next book, as I’m very invested in Blackthorn and Grim’s characters. I want to see what they’ll end up doing next! As I said, I’d highly recommend this novel -and I stick to my advice of not reading the entire synopsis the book gives.
I’m going to start by saying that I removed half of the synopsis given on Goodreads. My only “issue” with this book was that I knew too much going in. I read the entire Goodreads synopsis, and I feel like it was just too telling! I was waiting for 70% of the book on what I already knew would happen… So to ensure that you don’t have the same problem, I’ve redacted the summary. Anyway, let’s get into the review.
WORLD
A first aspect I loved. During this book, the main characters travel from their prison through different countries into Dalriada. They travel for days/weeks. During that time, you get to experience and discover the world as well. I really enjoyed Juliet Marillier’s descriptions, and the world she created. Every time I read one of her books, everything just seems magical. The idyllic woods, small cabins and cottages, the great castles. Sigh. It all just sounds absolutely wonderful.
Like most fantasy novels, this sounds like a medieval setting. Horses, castles, swords, and (herb) healers. Blackthorn is a healer, or as some would say, a wise woman. I really enjoyed learning about the place they live, their little cabin in the woods. I loved to get to know the townspeople, their jobs and way of living. And of course, you get to know the way everything works inside the castle too. Prince Oran’s castle in Dalriada is not the “main seat” for the royal family, it’s his personal house. So the King & Queen are actually not that present in this book, aside from mentions.
Like I said, this world seems so magical and full of possibilities. Yet tough times and hard work are required to survive too.
I don’t really want to talk about the plot. Like I mentioned, I feel like you should know as little as possible before starting this book. Even though I felt a bit spoiled on it all, I loved the whole story. It was a delight to go along with Oran, Blackthorn and Grim and discover what was happening in their world.
CHARACTERS
This story is told through 3 POVs: Blackthorn’s, Grim’s and Prince Oran’s.
Blackthorn is a healer. Or she was once, at least. As part of her deal to get out of prison, she can’t refuse to help anyone. Now, Blackthorn has been through many tough times, which is part of the reason she ended up in prison. It has made her extremely vengeful, and the last thing she wants to do is help people. Yet she has to. She’s a complicated character, to me. As she is somewhat “older” (maybe in her late 20s or early 30s, I can’t quite remember – by older I just mean she’s not a teenager) when the story starts, she’s already had quite the life before.
At the start of the story, you don’t know anything about her life prior though. You only know that she wants vengeance against a powerful man. She’s an angry woman. And she’s determined. So sometimes, that leads to her having blinders on. You get to know this prickly woman who wants nothing to do with other humans slowly. But it’s so worth it. She’s also a woman who stands up for women’s rights -which I think is incredible. I really enjoyed reading from her perspective.
Grim is another very interesting character! I feel like I want to read the next book immediately, just to figure out more about him. Even after finishing this book, I have so many questions surrounding him. Here’s what comes to mind now, when I think of him. He’s a giant guy, which is why people are apprehensive when he approaches. But he’s such a kind person. I felt for him, truly. And he’s always taking care of Blackthorn, and trying to make her life a bit easier -even though she insists she doesn’t need him. His POV was my absolute favorite, and I’m sad he didn’t have more pages.
The last main character is Prince Oran. If I’m completely honest, his POV was my least favorite. Anyway, this story revolves around him -and his wedding- as well. His parents have been urging Oran to marry for years now, as he’s more than a suitable age. Especially for a prince. Oran is a person who prefers poetry, reading, writing and walks over hunting and fighting. He’s described as ‘soft’. I thought it was really interesting that a prince in such a medieval setting-fantasy novel has this kind of personality! It’s refreshing. But he’s refused to marry until he finds a woman he actually loves. Which is were Flidais comes in. They’ve been corresponding for a while, and she’s coming to his castle to get married.
When I read about him, I feel like he would make a great king. He walks between his people, listening to their problems, trying to solve them and understand their way of living. He’s honest and fair, but most of all, smart. All good qualities! Yet sometimes I felt a tad bored when I read from his perspective?
OVERALL
This is an incredible fantasy novel, and a great start to a series. I’ve been a fan of Juliet Marillier for years, and I’m glad to say I enjoyed this newer series too. I definitely want to pick up the next book, as I’m very invested in Blackthorn and Grim’s characters. I want to see what they’ll end up doing next! As I said, I’d highly recommend this novel -and I stick to my advice of not reading the entire synopsis the book gives.
mariah123456's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
pages_of_emma's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
gregoreads's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this! Sometimes it’s nice to have fantasy stories that aren’t about saving the world, and I liked that this was about a problem in two villages but still felt like it held all the importance of saving the world. I loved getting to know the characters, and even though some of the mysteries were easy to figure out, they had some turns that still made them surprising. I know some people thought it was slow but I really enjoyed the pacing and feel like I got to know the world quite well. Also, the distinction of the 3 character voices was amazing and so well done.